Tom Allen News

Joseph Kesselring's dark comedy farce Arsenic and Old Lace dates back to 1941 and was made into one hilarious film starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra in 1944. Nevertheless, the comedy is timeless, so it stills holds up quite deliciously in 2015. One never tires of murder especially when it's played out in a spooky old Brooklyn mansion adjacent to a cemetery...and most of the Brewster family who inhabit it are most definitely certifiable. Elderly Abby Brewster (Mannette Antil) and her sister Martha (Sylvia Alloway) dispose of over the hill lodgers all alone in the world - to bring them peace and eternal happiness. They offer homemade Eldeberry wine laced with arsenic and think they're doing the old codgers a favor. It seems perfectly harmless to them. In fact, they already have 11 bodies buried in the cellar and are about to embark on a funeral service for number 12 who is resting comfortably in the windowseat of their living room. It helps when their nephew Teddy (Jim Barkley) - who thinks he's Theodore Roosevelt - carries out their orders and buries the bodies, convinced that he's digging locks of the Panama Canal. When brother Mortimer (Jordan Byers) - a drama critic for a local paper - discovers the body by accident, he automatically assumes it's Teddy who has killed the man, never dreaming that his sweet aunts are responsible. The biggest problem for the family arises when Teddy's and Mortimer's brother Jonathan arrives on the scene. Jonathan (Brian Middleton) disappeared years ago, leaving a long trail of crimin

If you are already dreading the hustle of the upcoming holidays, The Royal Conservatory of Music is the perfect place to relax and gather strength for the holidays as well as to de-stress in the New Year. There is variety of concerts to choose from in December and January, either for yourself or to give as presents: Tallis Scholars offer a concert of Christmas music; birthdays of Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra, and Yehudi Menuhin are celebrated; and one can bring their entire family to the first performance of the Family Concerts series, Routes of Andalucia.

Mr. Pauer announces the release date of his highly awaited sophomore album “Orange” for September 18th on all digital platforms.

My first association with musical composer Frank Loesser was as an actor in the 70s in a revue of his music. I played Sky Masterson of Guys and Dolls and sang a duet of 'I've Never Been In Love Before'. I came to realize quite rapidly how lovely his music is and how well he manages to capture the moment of genuine emotion within a song. Upon seeing Guys and Dolls several times since, I have been awestruck as well by Abe Burrows and Joe Swerling's ability to take Damon Runyon's New York Broadway characters from the 20s and blow them up into something overwhelmingly moving and appealing. The two worlds of sin and redemption have never been connected so naturally, cleverly and colorfully nor with such style and panache. Now at GCT, the cast give their all to Loesser's Runyonesque romp and it comes up a surefire hit.

Executive producer Tim Dietlein and the Glendale Centre Theatre continue their exciting 68th season with the Broadway classic, GUYS AND DOLLS. Performances are August 28th - October 10th.

Two rising stars of comedy bring their best material to open Carriageworks Theatre's summer of comedy tonight 9 May. Carly and Tom will be the first of five comedy nights in Carriageworks' intimate upstairs studio including two Edinburgh preview shows in July.

Two rising stars of comedy bring their best material to open Carriageworks Theatre's summer of comedy 9 May. Carly and Tom will be the first of five comedy nights in Carriageworks' intimate upstairs studio including two Edinburgh preview shows in July.

CBC's Shift host Tom Allen has created a unique cabaret show that will make a special stop at the Hudson Village Theatre on Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 2pm.

Tonight 9 January 2015, Amused Moose Piccadilly will bring top comedy to the swishest venue in town at Soho's Sanctum Hotel.

VAULT Festival today announces a programme of exciting events alongside its return to the Leake Street tunnels. The six-week cultural festival in the labyrinthine tunnel network in Waterloo, opens on 28th January 2015 for six frenetic weeks.

On Friday 9 January 2015, Amused Moose Piccadilly will bring top comedy to the swishest venue in town at Soho's Sanctum Hotel.

Toronto repertory theater company Soulpepper kicked off its inaugural Salon Series lastnight with an exploration of the music from pre and post-war Germany and its influence on the Great White Way.

Albert Schultz, Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company, today announced details of the sixth annual Global Cabaret Festival. From today, October 24 to Sunday, October 27, the Young Centre for the Performing Arts once again becomes home to over 150 of Canada's leading performance artists staging over 15 original one-hour songbooks and cabarets.

A Party to Murder by Marcia Kash and Douglas E. Hughes/directed by Zoe Bright/GCT (Glendale Centre Theatre)/through November 23

With Music Director Peter Oundjian's tenth season in full swing, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents 24 concerts in October and November. The October performances range from Benjamin Britten's brilliant Violin Concerto performed by James Ehnes; to a special appearance by Rufus Wainwright, whom Elton John called the 'the greatest songwriter on the planet'; to a new performance experience featuring mesmerizing acrobats in Cirque de la Symphonie; to acclaimed Canadian pianist Janina Fialkowska performing the Piano Concerto by esteemed Polish composer, Witold Lutos?awski.

Albert Schultz, Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company, today announced details of the sixth annual Global Cabaret Festival. From Thursday, October 24 to Sunday, October 27, the Young Centre for the Performing Arts once again becomes home to over 150 of Canada's leading performance artists staging over 15 original one-hour songbooks and cabarets.

With Music Director Peter Oundjian's tenth season in full swing, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents 24 concerts in October and November. The October performances range from Benjamin Britten's brilliant Violin Concerto performed by James Ehnes; to a special appearance by Rufus Wainwright, whom Elton John called the 'the greatest songwriter on the planet'; to a new performance experience featuring mesmerizing acrobats in Cirque de la Symphonie; to acclaimed Canadian pianist Janina Fialkowska performing the Piano Concerto by esteemed Polish composer, Witold Lutos?awski.

‘A Night For Jennifer - West End' is a one-off charity gala concert in aid of Jennifer Charity, taking place at the Lyric Theatre - Shaftesbury Avenue, in the heart of London's West End on Monday 31st October 2011. Jennifer Charity was founded by James and Graham Edgington, father and son, following the death of Jennifer in 1985. Graham was left as a single parent of a 16 month old baby and not only did he have the pressure of bringing up James alone, he had to find his own time to grieve and work a full time job. Twenty-five years later James has extensively researched widowed fathers and was alarmed at the lack of supportive organisations aimed at widowers in particular. There are exceptional bereavement charities and organisations helping single parents often single mothers but nothing for men. James decided that he wanted to set up this charity as a support mechanism for widowed fathers and of course, importantly, the children affected by these circumstances.

‘A Night For Jennifer - West End' is a one-off charity gala concert in aid of Jennifer Charity, taking place at the Lyric Theatre - Shaftesbury Avenue, in the heart of London's West End on Monday 31st October 2011. Jennifer Charity was founded by James and Graham Edgington, father and son, following the death of Jennifer in 1985. Graham was left as a single parent of a 16 month old baby and not only did he have the pressure of bringing up James alone, he had to find his own time to grieve and work a full time job. Twenty-five years later James has extensively researched widowed fathers and was alarmed at the lack of supportive organisations aimed at widowers in particular. There are exceptional bereavement charities and organisations helping single parents often single mothers but nothing for men. James decided that he wanted to set up this charity as a support mechanism for widowed fathers and of course, importantly, the children affected by these circumstances.